Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

Enemy agents were found in the streets under her jurisdiction, and she, the street director, was completely unaware of it beforehand!

This is a serious dereliction of duty!

Her face turned deathly pale instantly. She forced out a smile that looked worse than crying. Her lips trembled as she tried to say something, such as asking for details or praising her achievements. But when she saw Liu Jianguo's serious, businesslike expression, and thought about his deputy director level and the great achievement he had just made, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. The difference in their ranks and her sense of guilt made it impossible for her to speak.

Liu Jianguo ignored the distraught Director Wang and turned his gaze to the deputy director of Jiaodaokou Police Station, who was standing to the side in a police uniform and looked nervous. He spoke in an unquestionable, commanding tone:

"I am Liu Jianguo, Deputy Director of the Dongcheng Branch of the Municipal Public Security Bureau! I am also the Deputy Director of the Security Department of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill! The enemy agents have been captured by my team, and important evidence such as radios and codebooks have been seized. The case is of great importance. All involved personnel and evidence have been brought back to the Steel Rolling Mill Security Department for intensive interrogation! Your police station is responsible for assisting in maintaining order at the scene, evacuating the crowd, and cooperating with the subsequent investigation!"

Looking at Liu Jianguo's capable subordinates, the prisoners being held, and the conspicuous radio behind him, and hearing Liu Jianguo reveal his dual identity and give clear instructions, the deputy director knew that no matter what level he was on, he had no choice but to obey.

He quickly straightened his back, saluted, and respectfully replied, "Yes, Chief! We will obey orders immediately! Arrange for people to maintain order!"

However, when his gaze swept over Liu Jiefang, who was standing next to Liu Jianguo (Liu Jiefang was wearing a police uniform, indicating that he was from the police station), his eyes lit up.

He quickly calculated in his mind: Although the main credit should definitely go to Liu Jianguo, Liu Jiefang is one of our officers. He participated in the operation, so the police station can get a share of the credit, at least it won't be completely passive.

Moreover, the fact that Liu Jiefang was able to participate in an operation of this level suggests that he has a very important background and a close relationship with Liu Jianguo.

Thinking of this, he deliberately nodded slightly at Liu Jiefang, giving him an appreciative and friendly look.

Without further delay, Liu Jianguo led a large contingent, escorting the prisoners and carrying the spoils, back to the security department of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

They went directly to the heavily guarded interrogation area.

Liu Jianguo instructed Li Wu, "Li Wu, these four survivors are in your hands! Get the infirmary staff to give their wrist wounds temporary bandages to prevent infection. Then separate them and keep them under strict guard! Remember, I want them alive! Not a single one is allowed to die before we have a clear interrogation!"

Then, he continued to assign tasks: "Li Cheng, you take ten men and stay behind to assist Li Wu in guarding him and prepare to participate in shift interrogations."

"Li Liang, you take the rest of the men and continue the factory area night patrol as planned. We cannot let this incident cause us to slack off on our daily security work."

After making the arrangements, Liu Jianguo took Li Bing back to his deputy director's office.

Although it was late at night, he immediately grabbed the internal phone on the table and made calls to Wu Tiansheng, the head of the security department, and Nie, the secretary of the factory's party committee.

Over the phone, he gave a concise report on the details of the capture of enemy agents that night, the results of the operation (four were captured alive, one was killed, and a radio and codebook were seized), and the fact that there were no casualties on our side.

On the other end of the phone, Secretary Nie's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement and praise: "Comrade Jianguo! Well done! Absolutely brilliant! This is a great victory! On behalf of the factory's Party Committee, I congratulate and thank you and your comrades! You have rid the factory and our city of Beijing of a great scourge!" Director Wu also gave high praise.

Secretary Nie and Director Wu stated over the phone that this matter was of great importance, and they would immediately leave home and rush to the factory to personally hear a detailed report and oversee the follow-up matters.

I had just hung up the phone with Secretary Nie when the telephone on my desk rang urgently.

Liu Jianguo picked up the receiver: "Hello, this is Liu Jianguo."

A slightly anxious yet affectionately reproachful voice immediately came through the receiver; it was the political commissar of the Dongcheng branch: "Hey! Comrade Jianguo! It's me, Lao Zhao! I'm telling you, brother, you haven't handled this matter very well! You're also the deputy director of our branch on secondment! With such a good 'job,' how could you go it alone and not leave any opportunities for your comrades in the branch?"

The political commissar changed his tone, pretending to have just heard the news, "I heard that Wang Weiguo from our branch's criminal investigation team and Liu Jiefang from Jiaodaokou Police Station both deserve credit for tonight's brilliant operation? They're both promising talents! Comrade Jianguo, you were the one who introduced these two, so you have to protect these heroes for our branch!"

These words sound like concern for subordinates, but in reality, they are a reminder to Liu Jianguo: credit cannot be taken for granted. There are people in the branch office who are also part of the credit, and everyone should share the spoils.

Listening to the political commissar's seemingly rambling yet subtly witty remarks, Liu Jianguo chuckled inwardly: "Truly worthy of being a political worker, his art of speaking is superb. He clearly wants to share the credit, yet he phrases it in a grand and dignified manner. While it may seem nonsensical, he clearly conveys the meaning that 'the branch office deserves a share of the credit,' and even carries a subtle, undeniable threat."

Liu Jianguo knew perfectly well that if he insisted on taking all the credit, the political commissar would likely "regretfully" say that enemy agents had appeared within the branch's jurisdiction, but the branch itself had failed to discover and eliminate them in time, and that comrades from a brother unit had taken the credit. If this got out, the entire branch would lose face... This label of "disregarding the overall situation" would be of no benefit to his future development.

Bringing the branch office along is considered a collective achievement, bringing joy to everyone; not bringing it is seen as a lack of discipline, with endless potential consequences.

Having figured out the pros and cons, Liu Jianguo immediately switched to a warm tone on the phone:

"Political Commissar, what are you saying! Comrades Wang Weiguo and Liu Jiefang performed exceptionally bravely tonight and have truly made a great contribution! Don't worry, our branch bureau will definitely get a share of the credit! We'll need experts from the branch bureau to provide guidance and assistance for the subsequent interrogations and case reporting! No problem, absolutely no problem!" He readily agreed.

Just as I finished dealing with the political commissar and hung up the phone, I heard Li Bing knocking on the door.

Li Bing pushed open the door and came in, reporting in a low voice, "Director, Director Wang from the Subdistrict Office is here. He says he has something urgent to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jianguo immediately understood. After a moment's thought, he realized Director Wang's intention: fearing the responsibility of "not knowing that enemy agents were in the jurisdiction," he rushed over to try and get the street to also be labeled as "jointly operating" or "actively cooperating," in order to avoid being implicated.

Liu Jianguo thought to himself: No wonder he is Director Wang of the street office, known as the "Quilt King". His political sensitivity and ability to shift blame and take credit are truly masterful.